Hamid Idris Awate

Hamid Idris Awate was born on April 10, 1910, in the Gash-Barka region of western Eritrea. Serving in the colonial cavalry and later defending rural communities against armed bandits, Awate possessed extraordinary tactical military command and marksmanship.

When Emperor Haile Selassie systematically dismantled the UN-mandated Eritrean federation, Awate formed a pioneer guerrilla unit of eleven fighters. On September 1, 1961, on Mount Adal, Awate fired the opening salvo against imperial Ethiopian forces. Though he passed away eight months later, his pistol became the sacred spark of the 30-year liberation war.